Posted by Randa Samaha on August 07, 2014
I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) at the age of 5. Or at least that’s when my doctors were finally able to figure out what had been going on for years. As a 5 year old I learned, in simple terms, that my body was “overreacting and attacking itself.
For the majority of my young life, I did not know what it was like to not be in pain. I lived with continuous pain and symptoms. I lived with urgencies and emergencies. I learned how to deal with accidents and embarrassments. I learned how to speak honestly and openly about my UC. And most importantly, I learned how to advocate for myself.
I believe living with UC has made me a stronger person, and for that, I am grateful. I am grateful for what it has taught me and for where it has taken me in life. Today, I am a nurse because I looked up to my health care team and I am a patient advocate because I want to empower others to recognize their strengths.
My wish is to help other children living with inflammatory bowel disease recognize how strong and unique they are. I wish to empower them with the tools they need to learn how to listen to their bodies and nurture their souls, allowing for healing to take place. I know from personal experience that even when everything seems chaotic and out of control, we as patients still have the power to make decisions and must resolve to hold our head high, remain positive, and live life to the fullest.